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Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Slab Camp Creek and Gray Wolf River
An upside-down trail letting you cruise to your destination and then pay for it later. Even though you must climb more than 1000 feet on your return, the grade is fairly gentle and the tread is smooth. With a new bridge in place across the Gray Wolf River, the Slab Camp Creek Trail offers the best and easiest way into the upper reaches of this wilderness valley. The trees are big, the river impressive, and company is scarce.
From a 2500-foot saddle between Deer Ridge and Ned Hill, the Slab Camp Creek Trail begins its delightful descent into the Gray Wolf River valley. A mosquito-breeding marsh at the trailhead may have you picking up the pace before you're warmed up. Immediately enter the Buckhorn Wilderness, winding your way through a thick forest of second-growth hemlock. Much of this area succumbed to major fires early in the twentieth century. After about 0.5 mile of level walking, begin descending. Through open forest lined with an understory of leathery-leaved rhododendrons, salal, and Oregon grape, catch some good views of Deer and Gray Wolf Ridges hovering over the valley. At about 1.5 miles the grade eases. Slab Camp Creek now bubbles alongside the trail. As you descend deeper into the Gray Wolf Valley, bigger and older trees become the norm. Evidently a cooler and moister microclimate helped protect these trees from the ravages of wildfire. With the Gray Wolf River now audible but not yet visible, the trail makes a final, somewhat steep drop to the valley floor. Cross cascading Slab Camp Creek on a good bridge on your way down. At 2.8 miles emerge in a rich bottomland known as Duncan Flat, with towering cedars. Here a scattering of campsites along the tumbling and thundering Gray Wolf River make good lunch and nap spots. A little beyond the flats the trail crosses the Gray Wolf on a sturdy iron-beamed bridge, which was flown in and constructed in 2005. More camp and contemplation sites can be found on the other side of the mighty river. A quarter mile beyond the bridge, the Slab Camp Creek Trail ends at Camp Tony on the Gray Wolf River Trail. With the bridge out downriver on this major trail, don't expect to encounter very many fellow hikers if you continue to further explore this wild valley.
Driving Directions:
From Sequim head west 2.5 miles on US 101. Turn left onto Taylor Cutoff Road (just after crossing the Dungeness River). In 2.6 miles bear right onto Lost Mountain Road. In another 2.6 miles turn left onto dirt Forest Road 2870. After 1 mile enter the Olympic National Forest, coming to a junction. Bear right on FR 2875 and in 3.5 miles come to an intersection at primitive Slab Camp. Park here. The trail begins on the south side of road. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bridge out | Washouts
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Another weekend of avalanches so another trip to the Dungeness drainage. Slab Camp trail this time. ...
Another weekend of avalanches so another trip to the Dungeness drainage. Slab Camp trail this time. A few blowdowns, but nothing like the mess last week (see my 1/6 report for Gray Wolf River) Day hike
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Snow on trail
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Slab Camp, Rain, 2540 feet. Ascend Deer Ridge Trail at 35% grade & see distant sunbreaks. Snow cover...
Slab Camp, Rain, 2540 feet. Ascend Deer Ridge Trail at 35% grade & see distant sunbreaks. Snow covered meadows & ridges above 4,000 feet. Blue skies & sun melt the snow & rain on the trail. Three Forks TH, 5360 feet, begin 4.3 mile, 3300 foot descent. Shelter, privy & sunny meadow at Grand Creek lunch stop. Follow Cameron Creek trail over 3 footbridges spanning Grand, Cameron & Graywolf River. Climb high above a canyon of the Graywolf to Slide Camp, 2150 feet. Baldy Trail starts here, but no time. Drop to Slab Camp Bridge, 1440 feet. Impressive steel, concrete & wood bridge. Ascend Slab Camp trail 1100 feet, 30% grade. Rhodys line the trail. 18 plus miles, I'm ready for home. No trail damage to report. Snow on Deer Ridge & Three Forks above 4000 feet. Day hike
Issues:
Washouts
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The Slab Camp TH begins at 2540 feet on FSR2875. The trailhead sign and sign up sheet have apparentl...
The Slab Camp TH begins at 2540 feet on FSR2875. The trailhead sign and sign up sheet have apparently been vandalized as they were not there today. When we did this trail 2 weeks ago, the sign board was in good condition. (We did report this to the Quilcene Ranger Station.)The Slab Camp trail descends to the Lower Gray Wolf in 2.2 miles, crosses a beautiful new bridge, and then ends at Camp Tony on the Lower Gray Wolf Trail at 2.5 miles.We turned left on the Gray Wolf Tail and hiked about .9 miles to the washout which occurs just above the former crossing of the Gray Wolf on the Log Stringer Bridge. We could see 2 hikers on a knoll across the river above the washed out bridge! We exchanged waves!! The narrow gorge in this area is beautiful and calls for many pictures! Day hike
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Thank you to WTA for clearing the trail to the bridge over the Gray Wolf! We hiked to the Lower Gray...
Thank you to WTA for clearing the trail to the bridge over the Gray Wolf! We hiked to the Lower Gray Wolf Trail at Camp Tony, 2.5 miles.We then turned right and hiked about a mile on the Lower Gray Wolf Trail having to turn at that point so we would get out before dark. This is an ""upside down trail"" beginning at 2540 ft and ending at the bridge at 1500 feet.The trail continues .3 miles from the bridge to Camp Tony-1650 feet.
Lower Gray Wolf River #92,Slab Camp #838
— Feb 04, 2006
— Bob and Barb
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bridge out | Washouts | Water on trail
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We began our hike at the Slab Camp Trailhead, 2540 ft., descending to the Gray Wolf River at 1500 fe...
We began our hike at the Slab Camp Trailhead, 2540 ft., descending to the Gray Wolf River at 1500 feet. There was a wet snow at the trailhead, but this became light rain in about a mile. We stepped over 41 branches and small limbs! There is a BEAUTIFUL new bridge across the Gray Wolf. This was completed in October of 2005! THANK YOU!! We continued to the Lower Gray Wolf Trail and turned left. We were able to hike less than a mile farther as there was a trail washout and bridge washout. The river was beautiful flowing through a beautiful gorgelike area. We could see the Lower Gray Wolf Trail across the river and have hiked it several times in the past. We had lunch on rocks along the river near the end of the hikable trail. This is a beautiful winter hike! |
 Slab Creek. Photo by Bob and Barb.
2010, 2011, 2012
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